The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) procedure is designed to protect the rights of someone where the care or treatment received in a hospital or care home means they are, or may become, deprived of their liberty, and they lack mental capacity to consent to those arrangements.
We have published an extract for the West Midlands region of the national DoLS data for 2022-23, which shows a 17.5% increase in applications in the region. Use the link or find this in our resources section.
See also the article by WM ADASS and DoLs specialist Lorraine Currie I wouldn’t start from here – A blog about the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
Our webinar/virtual conference held on 19 October 2023 generated or referenced resources that are available in our resources section:
DoLS webinar 19 October: full slide deck
DoLS webinar 19 October 2023: links from Teams chat
A Digital Cage is Still a Cage by Neil Crowther & Lorna McGregor
New resources added 25 March 2024
Three DoLS documents WM ADASS has reviewed and updated, and ADASS has adopted for wider use have been added to the resources section:
The ADASS DoLS Priority Tool, developed after Cheshire West, has been updated to reflect current practice and priorities.
The Rights Guide is something to be given to people once there is a DoLS authorisation in place to tell them what their rights are.
An easyread version of The Rights Guide.
Further new resources added 28 March 2024
The following documents have been added to the resources section:
WM ADASS DoLS forms guidance 2024 has been issued following completion of a review of guidance to support practitioners with the DoLS forms (a set of which are available in the resources library).
We have also produced a recommended DoLS operating model for the West Midlands, which highlights some of the most efficient practices to be utilised in the DoLS process. We recognise that not all Councils can utilise every aspect of the model but we are hopeful that it will be of use to everyone.
Additionally, we are making available two leaflets which highlight the required DoLS information for Care Homes and for Hospitals. These are made available for councils to use and circulate widely.